Chapter 61 #2
“You are finished with these games. Understand?” he snarled down at me. “I want her dead. Now. I want this taken care of before you fuck up another opportunity. You are not going to make a mockery out of me!”
“We had a deal,” I reminded him, trying not to let the racing fear in my heart show through. “Are you going back on your word?”
His hand struck down by my head, his nails digging into the chair. He leaned closer to me, his eyes dark, the shadow of the candles flickering over his scowl.
“A deal is a deal on my terms,” Papa hissed in my face, grabbing my jaw with his other hand and forcing me to meet his eyes. “Do you want a daughter, Eleanor? Do you want friends? I could make your entire life crumble away in seconds.”
“I told you—” I tried to squirm out of his grip.
“Olivia lives in that cute little house with the stain glass purple door, doesn’t she?” Papa’s lips tugged into a sinister smile. “It would be a shame if something happened to that poor girl. You know how forgetful she is about locking up when she’s home alone.”
My heart stopped. I tried to breathe, but the fear inside me made it burn.
“You wouldn’t kill her,” I forced out through my disbelief, though I knew if he wanted her dead, she would be. “She’s not involved. She’s done nothing! Her parents have no ties to us!”
“Except for you.”
Papa released my face and gently caressed my cheek as he stood back up. His palm gently smacked the left side of my face, a warning sting from his controlled force.
“You tie her to us. That’s enough for me.” He shrugged. “Let’s see, who else has been in your life lately… What’s that quiet kid’s name? With the big dog?”
“I am taking care of business. Don’t be irrational.”
“Bunny—” He gasped, resting a hand on his chest and laughing. It was sinful. Devilish. Papa’s smile held nothing but emptiness. “Irrationality is freedom. The work of our bloodline.”
“My bloodline.” I swallowed.
“What?” His face hardened.
“You married into this family. You were nothing before Mom gave you a title.” I gripped the arms of the leather chair and prepared for a punch to the face.
“Let’s face it, Papa. You’re just another man who used a woman for power.
Between you and me . . .I am the legacy. You’re just the arranged monkey man.”
His face turned deep red. I inhaled deeply and prepared for his strong hand to come down on me as it lifted into the air.
“You dare disrespect your papa like this? The man who gave you such power in the first place? I built you from the weak little bitch you once were!” he screamed, spit hitting my face.
The door flew open. He dropped his hand, most likely worried one of his clueless coworkers had rushed in at the sound of yelling. Annoyingly for me, it was only an out of breath Maxim.
“Chto ty khochesh’?” Papa spat. What do you want?
Maxim could barely contain his smile. He looked like a kid that finally got a C after straight Fs. A little boy with a dollar for the vending machine.
He stood straight and let his smile grow across his face. Maxim reached out with his fist closed and exhaled a loose, relieved laugh.
“We’ve done it, boss.”
His hand opened, and a string dropped down from his fingers.
I stared at it and felt a shattering crack run through my heart.
My eyes fell to the red heart hanging down from the black string. A bent, crooked, golden hook twinkled in the low lighting.
“We have the girl,” Maxim confirmed, taking every ounce of air from my body.
Papa stepped forward and gently took the necklace into his hands. He examined it closely and grinned from ear to ear. His body wracked violently as his laugh sputtered from disbelief to pure, manic joy.
“Maxim, my boy!” He shook the oldest Vincent brother and practically gave a manly squeal of excitement. “I knew you had something in you. See, Eleanor? See how easy it is to get it done?”
“Oscar and I,” he corrected, glancing in my direction. “We did it together.”
My knees felt wobbly as I stood from the chair. I leaned into my father’s desk and swallowed down the bile fighting to rise in my throat.
“Is she dead?” His words rang in my ears.
I turned around and watched Maxim bob his head side to side. He looked unsure, worried.
“Soon.” He proudly raised his chin. “Oscar’s escorting her body where we have better access. To get you the parts you wanted.”
“Perfect. Absolutely perfect.” Papa looked to me and dangled the necklace in my view. “See how easy that is? Here I was, worried the rumors of you being so…attached to this girl would lead me to trouble.”
“Instead, she led her right here.” Maxim smirked.
The car.
The car behind me.
Tingles traveled through my body. I felt like I was going to collapse on this floor. Burning rage boiled, and lava oozed down my throat, behind my eyes.
I had led her right into this trap. She was too stubborn. Too fucking nosy. She was her father’s daughter, and I wanted to kick her ass right now for being so damn stupid when it came to danger.
They continued talking, their words nothing in my ears but aimless speech. I watched the heart dangle from my father’s fingers in a slow ticking motion that held my slowing pulse.
“Is she dead?” I asked, voice hoarse.